Agenda and minutes

Venue: QE2 Room, Shoreham Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea

Contact: Chris Cadman-Dando
Democratic Services Officer
01903 221264  Email  chris.cadman-dando@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

c/36/19-20

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received by Councillors Les Alden, Peter Metcalfe, Robin Monk and Sami Zeglam.

c/37/19-20

Declarations of interest

Members and officers must declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to any business on the agenda. Declarations should also be made at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting.

 

If in doubt contact the Legal or Democratic Services representative for this meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made.

c/38/19-20

Questions from the public

To receive any questions from members of the public addressed to Members of the Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11. There is up to 5 minutes for each question, one supplementary question may be asked arising from the original question.

 

Questions must relate to any matter the Council has power or which affects the District except no questions may be asked on

 

a)    A specific planning or licensing application

b)    A specific staffing appointment or appeal or Standards determination

 

Public question time will last up to 30 minute; questions will be taken in order of receipt. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 17 December at 12 noon.

 

Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Minutes:

There were no questions from the public.

c/39/19-20

Confirmation of Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Council on 31 October 2019, copies of which have been previously circulated.

Minutes:

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 31 October 2019 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

c/40/19-20

Announcements by the Chairman, Leader of the Council, Executive Members and / or Head of Paid Service

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Council welcomed the new Leader of the Labour Group and offered a speedy recovery to Councillor Alden. The Chairman gave an update on the visits he had made since the last meeting of Council.  

 

The Leader informed the Council of a Christmas sock appeal being arranged by Councillor Mansfield.

 

The Executive Member for the Environment congratulated Officers on a well organised Christmas shopping event.

c/41/19-20

Items raised under urgency provisions

To consider any items the Chairman has agreed are urgent

Minutes:

The Chairman informed the Council that there were no matters of urgency to be considered.

c/42/19-20

Recommendations from the Executive and Committees to Council pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To consider recommendations to the Council, details of which are set out in the attached items as item 7.  Full reports are available on the website as listed below:

 

 

Executive/Committee

Date

Item

7a

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee

21.11.19

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2019/20 - Update

 

7b

Joint Governance Committee

26.11.19

Governance Arrangements for Charitable Trusts in Adur and Worthing

 

7c

Joint Governance Committee

26.11.19

Scheme of Allowances for Adur District Council 2020/21 - 2022/23 

 

7d

Joint Strategic Committee

03.12.19

Platforms for our Places -Going Further (2020-2022) : Unlocking the Power of People, Communities and our Local Geographies

 

7e

Joint Strategic Committee

03.12.19

JSC Financially Sustainable Councils: Update to the 2020/21 - 2024/25 budget forecast and savings proposals for 2020/21

 

7f

Joint Strategic Committee

03.12.19

 

 Investing for the future: Capital Programme 2020/21 to 2022/23 

 

7g

Joint Strategic committee

03.12.19

Mid Year Review of Treasury Management 2019-20, Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council  

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A) Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2019/20 - Update

 

The Chairman of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee introduced the recommendation to the Council.

 

On a vote the recommendation was approved

 

Resolved: that the Council notes the changes to the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme.

 

B) Governance Arrangements for Charitable Trusts in Adur and Worthing

 

The Chairman of the Joint Governance Committee introduced the recommendations to the Councils

 

On a vote the recommendations were approved

 

Resolved:

 

i) that the Joint Strategic Committee be delegated the authority to act on behalf of Adur District Council as sole charity trustee of Adur Recreation Ground and Southwick Green, in all Executive matters relating to the operation of the Trusts.

 

ii) that the Joint Governance Committee  be delegated the authority to act on behalf of Adur District Council as sole charity trustee of Adur Recreation Ground and Southwick Green, in all non-Executive matters other than those requiring Charity Commission consent or notification, and that they be required to bring an annual report to full Council each year on activity during the previous year.

 

ii) that the Scheme of Delegations to Officers be amended to delegate authority to the Council’s Head of Environmental Services to act on behalf of Adur District Council as sole charity Trustee of Adur Recreation Ground and Southwick Green in respect of all day to day management activities and administrative matters.

 

C) Scheme of Allowances for Adur District Council 2020/21 - 2022/23

 

The Chairman of the Joint Governance Committee introduced the recommendation to the Councils and answered a question on options put forward by the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel and the Joint Governance Committee

 

The Council debated the matter and on a vote the recommendations were approved

 

Resolved:

 

i)that the basic allowance be referenced to the outcome of the Officers’ NJC Pay bargaining agreement for a period of two years until March 2022/2023;

 

ii) that the Special Responsibility Allowance for Chairmen of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Joint Governance Committee be raised in line with what is offered at Worthing; and

 

iii) that an additional 1% increase be added for 2020/21

D) Platforms for our Places - Going Further (2020/2022) : Unlocking the Power of People, Communities and our Local Geographies

 

The Leader introduced the recommendations to the Council

 

The council debated the recommendations. Comments were made that the document was technical in nature and could be difficult to understand by members of the public. The Leader told the council that he would discuss the feasibility of a simplified document with officers. 

 

Resolved: that Platforms for our Places: Going Further be approved as a key core strategic document for the next three years.

 

E) Financially Sustainable Councils: Update to the 2020/21 - 2024/25 budget forecast and savings proposals for 20/21

 

The Leader introduced the recommendation to the Council and was asked about the high financial risk faced by the authorities every year. The Leader told the Council that the authority met its  ...  view the full minutes text for item c/42/19-20

c/43/19-20

Notification of a Change to the Political Makeup of the Council pdf icon PDF 122 KB

To consider a report by the Director for Communities, copy attached as item 8

Minutes:

Before the Council was a report by the Director for Communities, a copy of which had been circulated to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 8

 

The report before members set out the formation of a new independent alliance and a number of changes to positions within the political decision making structure of the Council. There were a number of changes subsequent to publication of the report including the need to appoint to the Licensing Committee and a further change to the membership of the Planning Committee.

 

The Leader of the Council proposed the recommendations as set out in the report and included an additional proposal to change the membership of the Licensing Committee which was seconded

 

The new Leader of the Labour group lauded the previous Leader and proposed an amendment to the Planning Committee which was seconded and approved

 

The Substantive motion was approved

 

Resolved:

 

i) That the Council notes the revised political balance of the Council;

ii) That the Council makes appointments to Committees as set out  in the appendix to these minutes;

iii) That the Council makes appointments to the positions of Vice-Chairmen as set out in the appendix to these minutes;

iv) That the Council appoints to the position of the Leader of the Main Opposition as set out in the appendix to these minutes;

v) That the Council appoints to the position of the Leader of the Main Opposition as set out in the appendix to these minutes;

c/44/19-20

Report of the Leader on decisions taken by the Executive pdf icon PDF 135 KB

To receive a report from the Leader. The report contains executive decisions since the last Council meeting.

 

There is up to 15 minutes for Executive Members to make any statements on the report.

 

There is up to 15 minutes for Executive Members to respond to questions on the report; these questions will not be the same as any asked under ‘Members Questions under Council Procedure Rule 12’    

Minutes:

Before the Committee was a report by the Director of Communities, a copy of which had been circulated to all members, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 9

 

The report before members set out the decisions made by the Executive since the last meeting of Council.

 

The Executive Member for Regeneration informed the Council of decisions being taken in relation to Carbon Reduction

 

The Executive Member for Wellbeing informed the Council about work with young people and developments concerning Eastbrook Manor.

 

Executive Members were asked questions in relation to the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, Income generated from new streams, responses to JOSC reports and content of Housing Policy documents.

c/45/19-20

Members question time under Council Procedure Rule 12

Members question time will last up to 30 minutes, questions will be taken in order of receipt, in rotation from each political group on the Council. The deadline for submission of questions is Tuesday 17 December at 12 noon. Questions to be submitted to democratic.services@adur-worthing.gov.uk

 

Questions received can be asked of the following:

 

a)    The Chairman

b)    A Member of the Executive

c)    The Chairman of any Committee

d)    The Councils representative on any outside body

 

Questions cannot be asked on the following

 

a)    A specific planning or licensing application

b)    A specific staffing appointment, appeal or Standards determination

Minutes:

Councillor Lee Cowen asked the following question: Since the Council has committed to recognising the climate emergency and initiated a Carbon Reduction Plan to work towards carbon neutrality by 2030, would the leader of the council consider a change in name for the role of 'Adur executive member for environment' to 'Adur Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change'? 

 

The Leader told the Council that he would not change the title of the portfolio as the importance of the climate change issue was one that spread across portfolios but would be primarily led by the Leader.

c/46/19-20

Motion on Notice pdf icon PDF 123 KB

To consider a motion on notice submitted by Councillor Neil Parkin and seconded by Councillor Angus Dunn, details of which are attached to this agenda as item 11

Minutes:

Before the Council was a Motion received from Councillor Neil Parkin and seconded by Councillor Angus Dunn.

 

This Council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019 and has worked hard to create a robust Carbon Reduction Plan to work towards carbon neutrality for the Council by 2030.  The Council has created a new Sustainable AW Framework to steer and guide a range of activities so that Council, businesses, community groups and individuals can work well together to take this agenda forward.  We are putting our own house in order.

 

This Council now calls  upon the Trustees of the West Sussex County Council Local Authority Pension Fund (of which the Councils employees are members) to divest that fund of all investments in fossil fuel stocks, equities and funds and it instructs the Councils Chief Executive to write to the Trustees of the fund with a copy of this Motion on Notice and asking them to take action.

 

Members debated the motion and an on a vote the motion was carried

 

Resolved: This Council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019 and has worked hard to create a robust Carbon Reduction Plan to work towards carbon neutrality for the Council by 2030.  The Council has created a new Sustainable AW Framework to steer and guide a range of activities so that Council, businesses, community groups and individuals can work well together to take this agenda forward.  We are putting our own house in order.

 

This Council now calls  upon the Trustees of the West Sussex County Council Local Authority Pension Fund (of which the Councils employees are members) to divest that fund of all investments in fossil fuel stocks, equities and funds and it instructs the Councils Chief Executive to write to the Trustees of the fund with a copy of this Motion on Notice and asking them to take action.

Appendix

 

Committee

Councillor

Adur Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Joss Loader

Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Joss Loader

Adur Planning Committee

Councillor Joss Loader replacing Councillor Dave Collins 

Adur Planning Committee 

Councillor David Balfe replaces Councillor Les Alden

Adur Licensing Committee 

Councillor Dave Collins replaces Councillor Robin Monk 

 

Committee Position

Councillor

Vice Chair of the Joint Governance Committee

Councillor Andy McGregor 

Vice Chair of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee 

Councillor Joss Loader

Vice Chair of the Adur Overview and Scrutiny Committee 

Councillor Joss Loader

 

 

Main Opposition Change 

Councillor

Leader of the Main Opposition

Councillor Lee Cowen